Combination door and door-step for platforms of cars.



E. M. MOLLER'. COMBINATION DOOR AND DOOR STEP r03 PLATFORMS 0F CARS.APPLIO'ATION FILED FEB.26, 1914. 1 1 Q2 287 Patented July 7, 1914.

B BHEETS-SHEBT 1.

WITNESSES: 1 INVENTOR M/w/W EflvarHM.Mn11ar,

WQKQW @W Saga/BMW] ATTORNEYS TNE NORRIS PETERS (70., PHOTOLITHOWASfIIIIGYDN. D L.

E. M. MULLER. v COMBINATION DOOR ANDDOOR STEP FOR PLATFORMS 0P CARS.

AYPLIdATION FILED I'EB.26, 1914.

Patented July 7, 1914.

8 SHBETSSHEET 2.

2% llll g w WITNESSES: v WfiW My $060M INVENTOR. E Eiv arEl M. M01121, 1BY ATTORNEYS THE NORRIS PETERS CO1, PHOTO-LIYNOH WASHIIG'I'DN. D C,

B. M. MULLER. COMBINATION DOOR AND DO0R.STEP FOR PLATFORMS or CARS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.-26, 1914.

H. mm .W mm dm mm m 0 3 W qm m 7 2 5 2 1 w m 3//// 2, M 0 2 1 INVENTORfiCfivwd ATTORNEYS Wl/TNESSES: CovE-m THE NORRI B. M. MULLER.COMBINATION DOOR AND DOOR STEP FOR PLATFORMS 0P CARS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.26.1914.

Patented July 7, 1914.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

INVENTOR; Eavara M.Mu11er;

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PETERS O-LITHO.,WASHINGTUN. D C

E. M. MULLER.

COMBINATION DOOR AND DOOR STEP FOR PLATFORMS 0F CARS. APPLICATION nun1112691914.

1,102,287. Patented July 7, 1914.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

WITNESSES: INVENTORZ v 36 Eflvarfl M.Mu11er,

, B. M. MULLER. COMBINATION DOOR AND DOOR STEP FOR PLATFORMS 0F CARS.

APPLICATION FILED FEILZB, 1914.

Patented July 7, 1914.

8 SIIBETS-SHEET 6 I INVENTOR.

4 Eava a MMDnEr, 1265mm, WWW/ATTORNEYS WlTNESSES: wmfl dmf mJz i TNENORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-THU; WASHINGTON, D C.

E. M. MULLER.

COMBINATION DOOR AND DOOR STEP FOR PLATFORMS 0F CARS.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.26, 1914.

1,102,287. Patented July 7, 1914.

8 SEEETS-BHEET 7. i

WITNESSES: INVENTOR Eflva'ra M. Muller; fluff/mg ML /1 ofwwm ATTORNEYSINVENTOFF- BY Md, @fikmgk,

ATTORNEYS E. M. MOLLBR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.26. 1914.

Eflvara. M.Mu11er,

COMBINATION DOOR AND DOOR STEP FOR PLATFORMS 0P CARS.

EDVARD M. MULLER, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

COMBINATION DOOR AND DOOR-STEP FOR PLATFORMS 0F CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 7, 1914.

Application filed February 26. 1914. Serial No. 821,244.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EovAnn M. iiflonnnn, acitizen of theUnited States, residing at Jersey City, in the county ofHudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Combination Doors and Door-Steps for Platforms of Cars;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanyingdrawings, and to characters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates, generally to improvements in railway cars; and,the invention relates, more particularly, to a novel construction ofrailway car, and preferably to the street-railway car construction,combining with the platform of the car and its vestibule-door, means ina portion of thcplatform which can be raised in the manner of atrap-door, and at the same time, by means of an intervening mechanismautomatically dropping a step as the trap-door is raised,

or raising the step as the trap-door brought into its closed relationwith the opening in the platform of the car.

The invention has for its principal object to provide a novel and simplearrangement of trapdoor for the platform of a railway car and a meanscooperating with the said trap-door for simultaneously with therespective opening or closing movements of the trap-door lowering orraising a car-step.

Other objects of the present invention not at this time moreparticularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the followingdetailed description of the present invention. I

\Vith the various objects of the present invention in view, the saidinvention consists, primarily, in the novel arrangements and combinationof the various devices and parts, combined with the platform of arailway car, for operating a trap-door located in the floor of theplatform and simultaneously with the operation of the trap-door, eitherlowering or raising a step located beneath the opening in the platform.

The invention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements andcombinations of the arious mechanism employed to accomplish theherein-before stated results, as well as inthe details of theconstruction of the parts of such mechanism, all of which will be morefully described in the following specification, and then finallyembodied in the clauses of the claim which are appended to and whichform an essential part of this specitication.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhicht Figurc 1. is a side elevation of the one vcstibnled end-portionof a railway car, the vestibuled platform of which is provided with acombined trapdoor and movable step made according to and embodying theprinciplcs of the present invention, thevestibuledoor being shown closedand the stop being represented in its folded or raised position. Fig. 2is a horizontal sectional represent tion of the various partsrepresented in said liig. 1, showing the platform and trap-door in plan,and the trap-dom' in its closed po sition in the opening of theplatform. Fig. 3 is adctail vertical section taken on line i i-53 insaid Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a detail transverse vertical section, takenon line t4 in said Fig. 2, said views being made on enlarged scales. lig. 5 is a detail vertical section, similar to that represented in saidFig. 3, but showing the trap-door raised and the step lowered: and Fig.6 is a transverse sectional representation of the said parts, saidsection being taken on line 6(\ in said Fig. 5, lookin in the directionof the arrow ;1 Fig. 7 1s a detail plan view of a portion of thecar-platform and the trap-door in its closed position, said view beingalso made on an enlarged scale, and showing in connection withsaidparts, in horizontal sectional representation, portions of thevestibule-frame and of the vestibule door. tain parts of the frame-workand the trapdoor in vertical section, and in elevation, al'iolt-operating mechanism for locking the trap-door in its closedposition, the various parts being represented in their normal initialpositions when the bolt is in its locking engagement with the trap-door;and Fig.

9 is a transverse vertical section, taken on line 9-9 in said Fig. 8,looking in the direction of the arrow .2, with the bolt-operatingmechanism represented in elevation. F ig. 10 is a detailed sectionalrepresentation of a portion of the platform of the car and a portion ofthe trap-door in its raised position, said view showing in connectiontherewith a portion of the pivot-mechanism con- Fig. 8 is a detail view,showing cernected with the trap-door and the movable step, andspring-controlled ivoted retaining lever in engagement with saidpivotmecl'lanism for fixing the raised. trap-door immovably againstaccidental displacement when raised.

Similar characters of reference are em ployed in the above describedviews, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, thereference-character l indicates a portion of the body of a street-radWay car which is provided at one or both of its ends with the usualinclosed vestibuleplatform 2. The frame-work of the vestibule isprovided upon its side between a pair of posts or standards, as 3 and4:, with an opening, the opening between said posts or standards beingadapted to be closed by a suitably constructed vestibulemloor, as 5,which is hinged to one of said posts or standards, as 3, by means of theusual hinges 6. Suit-ably mounted beneath the platform 2, and extendinglaterally across and directly beneath a trap-door receiving opening 7,located in said platform and adjacent to the opening between the saidposts or standards 3 and i, is a shaft or spindle 8, said spindle beingoscillatorily mounted in suitable bearings 9 which are suitably securedto a portion of the framework, as 10, substantially as illustrated inthe several figures of the drawings. Suitably fitted within the saidopening 7 is a trapdoor, as 11, preferably made of sheet steel, the saidtrapdoor having suitably secured upon its under surface, near one edgeof the door, a set of bearings, as 12, by means of which the door ismounted upon said shaft or spindle 8, and suitably secured thereto so asto be swung upwardly from its closing position within the opening 7, orto be swung from its raised position into its closed position with theoscillations of the shaft or spindle 8 in the manner and for thepurposes to be hereinafter more fully set forth. Suitably secured to theplatform 2, at one of the marginal portions of the platform which boundthe said opening 7 is a plate 13 having one of its marginal edgesextending partway ver the opening 7, substantially as shown, so as toprovide a stop for a suitable packing-strip 1a which is attached to thelower surface of the trap-door at the edge near the hinged portion ofthe door, so as to provide a dust and weather-- proof joint at this edgeof the door, when closed, as will be evident from an inspection of Fig.3 of the drawings. Suitably secured to the lower face of the trap-door,near the marginal edge-portions thereof, is a packing-retaining frame ormeans, as 15, and a suitable packingl'l, which, when the trapdoor isclosed rests upon a bracket-like receiving member or element l8 suitablydisposed within the trap-door receiving opening at the bounding portionsof the platform,so as to provide dust and weather-proof joints, when thetrapdoor is closed, as will be clearly evident from an inspection ofFig. 4: of the drawings. The trap-door is also provided along itsmarginal edge, located adjacent to the opening formed between thestandards or posts 3 and 4: with an upwardly projecting rib 19, or othersuitably formed member, against which is secured, by means of a clampingor fastening bar 20, another packing strip, as 21, which tightly bindsagainst the usual base-strip 22 of the vestibule-door, when the latterand the trapdoor are both closed, so as to also provide at this point adust or weather-proof joint, as will be clearly evident from aninspection of said Fig. l: of the drawings.

Depending from the frame-work for the support of the platform, andextending across the trapdoor-receiving opening, (beneath the platfornn)are a pair of plates or other suitable supporting elements, as 23,formed with suitably disposed bearing-receiving openings 24, in whichare oscillatorily arranged suitably constructed bear ing-sleeves as 25.Brackets 26 are also secured by means of rivets 27, or other fasteningmeans, to said plates or supporting elements 23, said brackets beinglikewise provided with bearing-receiving openings 28 which are inregistration with the said open ings 24:, and in which openings 28portions of thesaid bearing-sleeves 25 are also oscillatorily arranged.

Suitably mounted and secured upon the portions 29 of said brackets, bymeans of bolts 30, or other suitable fastening devices, is a stationaryor fixed step 16, all of which is clearly shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6 ofthe drawings. Mounted in the said bearing sleeves 25, and suitablyfixed. to said sleeves by means of pins 31, or in any other suitablemanner, is another shaft or spindle 32. Suitably secured upon said shaftor spindle 32, by means of pins 33, or other suitable fastening means,are a pair of downwardly extending hangers 34: formed at their lowerportions with the step-supporting members upon which is secured by meansof screws or bolts 36, or other suitable fastening means, a step 37.Each hanger 34: is also provided with a rearwardly extending stoparm 38adapted to engage with a suitable buffer 39, see Fig. 6 of the drawings,which acts as a stop to retain the step in its horizontally fixedrelation for safely stepping thereon when in its lowered posit-ion. Asshown. in said Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings, one end-portion of thesaid shaft or spindle 32 extends for some distance beyond the supportingplate or element 23 located nearest the first-mentioned shaft or spindle8. Securely fixed upon this projecting end portion of the shaft orspindle 32, by means of a nut 41 and nut-lock L2, or in any othersuitable manner, is a crank-arm 40 formed with a pin receiving hub 42,in which is movably placed a pin. as 43. Likewise securely fixed uponthe said shaft or spindle 8 is a link '14, formed with a pin-receivinghub 45, in which is movably placed a pin 46. Pivotally mounted upon saidpin 46 is another link 44 formed with a hub to in which is niovablyplaced a pin 46, upon the projecting end-portions of which pin are theeyeportions -18 of a yoke 47, said yoke being provided with aninternally screwthreaded tubular. member 49. Pivot-ally mounted upon theprojecting end-portions of the pin 43 are the eye-portions 51 of aconnecting yoke formed with a tubular hub 52 in which is a pinPi'votally mounted upon the projecting end-portions of the pin 53 arethe eye-portions 55 of another yoke 54, said yoke 54 being also providedwith an internally screw-threaded member 56. Screwed into the said screwthreaded members 49 and 56 of the respective yokes 47 and 50 are therespective screw-threaded end-portions of a short connecting rod 57, theconstruction of the rod 57 with relation to the respective knucklejointsthus provided, being such that the parts may be readily adjusted, aswill be clearly evident. Thus it will be seen, that the two shafts orspindles 8 and 32 are operatively connected by this interconnectingmechanism, so that the oscillations of both shafts or spindles will takeplace simultaneously. Vith the arrangement and construction of theseveral devices and parts, in actual use, the weight of the movable stepand the hanger for suspending said step from the shaft or spindle 32 issuch that the normal tendency of the various devices and parts is suchthat the stepseeks toassume the lowered relation shown in Figs. 5 and 6of the drawings, with the trap-door correspondingly moved into itsraised position out of the trap-door receiving opening 7 in the platform2.

To retain the trap-door in its lowered and closed position within saidopening 7. and the movable step in its raised position, a suitablyconstructed trap-door retaining mechanism of the character illustratedin Figs. 8 and 9 may be employed. This mechanism consists, essentially,of a bolt 58 which is slidably disposed in a space 59 between themembers 60 and 61 of the framework of the car-body, said bolt having aportion extending into and through an open ing 63 in the part 62 of theframe-work and having its free end portion or nosing 6i slidably inretaining engagement with an angularly formed lock-plate, as 65, whichis suitably secured upon the under surface of the trap-door.

The said bolt 58 is pro vided with a downwardly extending hub- ]ikeelement 66, said element being movably disposed in a guide-slot or othersuitably formed opening, as 67, in said member 61. The said hub-likemember or element 66 is provided with a sutable slot or opening as ('38,which slot or opening extends also into the main body of the boltSuitably mounted in a bearing is a rock-shaft 70 having suitably securedthereto a crankarm 71. the upper portion 72 of which extends into thesaid previously-mentioned slot or opening (.38. Suitably mounted uponanother portion of said rock-shaft T1 is another cranlcarm 73, saidcrank-arm 73 being pivotally connected, as at 7-1, with a lever 75 whichis pivoted at its one end, as at 76, to a portion 77 ot' the lowerstructure or lrameuvork of the car-body. Extending laterally from theother end-pm'tion of said lever T5 is a pivot-stud, as 78, with which ispirolally connected the lower cnd-portio1r of a link. This linkconsists, preferably, of two link-members 7'.) and 80, which areadjustably connected by means of an adjusting nut, as 81, or othersuitable adjusting connectingmember. The upper portion of thelink-member S0 is provided with a laterally extending member 82, formedwith an elongated opening or slot 83, into which extends a stud orprojectimi of a crank-arm 84, said arm being operatively connected withthe spindle S6 of an operating, lever or handle S7. The said member 82is slidably disposed in a suitably-constructed guidingelcmcnt 88. \Vhenthe several parts of the lmlt-operating mechanism are in their relati veposit-ions indicated in said Figs. 8 and S) of the drawings, the boltsecurely locks the trap-door in its closed position in the platform ofthe car, the movable step being also retained in its raised position.\Vhen, however, the lever or handle 87 is turned into a position atright angles to that shown insaid Fig. 8, it will be clearly seen thatthe mechanism just described operates to withdraw the bolt from itsretaining or locking engagement with the trap-door, whereupon thetrap-door rises automati ally, and also the automatic lowering of thesuspended step takes place. As soon as the trap-door is raised, and thestep lowered, the vestibule door is opened, and the passenger may alightfrom the car. or may enter the car. That the trap-door may be positivelyheld in its raised position; but may be easily closed by the operator afixture or bracket 88 may be provided. see Fig. 10 ofthe drawings, whichcarries an extension 89. Pivotally connected with said fixture orbracket 88', by means of a pin or bolt 90 is a rock-arm 91 formed in itsupper marginal edge, at the one end of the said rock-arm, with asuitable depression or recess, as 92. into which a roller 93, mountedupon tli previously-mentioned pin 46, rides when the trap-door israised, as will be clearly understood from an inspection of said Fig. 10of the drawings. Springs, as 94: are arranged between the end-portion 95of said rock arm 91 and the extension 89 of the fixture or bracket 88,the purposes of said springs bein self-evident.

The purposes and operations of the various devices and parts describedin the foregoing specification will be clearly understood from aninspection of the several figures of the drawings, and, therefore, it isdeemed un necessary to further describe the manipulation and operationsof the said devices and parts.

I am aware, that changes may be made in the general arrangements andcombinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the detailsof the construction of the said parts, without departing from the scopeof the present invention as set forth in the said specification, and asdefined in the clauses of the claims which are appended thereto. Hence,I do not limit my present invention to the exact arrangements andcombinations of the said devices and parts as described in the said.specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of theconstruction of the said parts, as illustrated in the accompa nyingdrawings.

I claim:

1. In combination with the platform of a car, said platform beingprovided with an opening, a trap-door pivotally mounted in said opening,a bolt slidably mounted in the frame-work of the car for normallyretaining the trap-door in its closed position, means for releasing saidbolt from its locked engagement with the trap-door, and acounterbalancing step cooperating with the trapdoor for automaticallyraising the same as the step is lowered when the trap-door is releasedfrom its engagement with said bolt.

2. In combination with the platform of a car, said platform beingprovided with an opening, a trap-door pivotally mounted in said opening,a bolt slidably mounted in the frame-work of the car for normallyretainingthe trap-door in its closed position, said bolt being providedwith an elongated opening, and means for releasing said. bolt from itslocked engagement with the trap-door, consisting of a rock-shaft, acrank mounted upon said shaft, said crank having its free end-portionextending into the opening of said bolt, a second crank also mountedupon said shaft, a lever pivotally connected with said last-mentionedcrank, a link pivotally connected with said lever, said link beingprovided with a laterally extending member formed with an elongatedopening, a spin dle, a handle and a crank-arm mounted upon said spindle,and a stud on said crankarm, said stud extending into the opening of thelaterally extending member of said link, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

3. In combination with the platform of a car, said platform beingprovided with an opening, a rock-shaft mounted beneath said opening, atrap-door mounted upon said rock-shaft, a second rock-shaft also mountedbeneath said opening, a step carried by said second rock-shaft, andmechanism between said two rock-shafts cooperating with said shafts thatwhen the step is lowered the trapdoor is raised, and vice versa.

4. In combination with the platform of a car, said platform beingprovided with an opening, a rock-shaft mounted beneath said opening, atrap-door mounted upon said rock-shaft, a second rock-shaft also mountedbeneath said opening, a step carried by said second rock-shaft, andmechanism between said two rockshafts, cooperating with said shafts thatwhen the step is lowered the trap-door is raised, and vice versa, saidmechanism consisting of a crank-arm secured upon one of saidrock-shafts, a link secured upon the other rock-shaft, a yoke pivotallyconnected with said link, a second yoke pivotally connected with saidcrankarm, a third yoke pivotally connected with said firstmentionedyoke, and a connecting rod between said second and third-mentionedyokes.

5. In combination with the platform of a car, said platform beingprovided with an opening, a trapdoor pivotally mounted in said opening,a fixed step beneath said opening, a rock-shaft mounted beneath saidfixed step, hangers suspended from said rock-shaft, a step carried bysaid hangers, means for rocking said shaft, and a stoparm extending fromsaid shaft.

6. In combination with the platform of a car, said platform beingprovided with an opening, a rock-shaft mounted beneath said opening, atrap-door mounted upon said rock-shaft, a fixed step beneathsaidopening, a second rock-shaft mounted beneath said fixed step, hangerssuspended from said second-mentioned roclcshaft, a step carried by saidhangers, and mechanism between said two rock-shafts, cooperating withsaid shafts, that when the step is lowered the trap-door is raised, andvice versa.

7. In combination with the platform of a car, said platfom beingprovided with an opening, a rock-shaft mounted beneath said opening, atrap-door mounted upon said rock-shaft, a fixed step beneath saidopening, a second rock-shaft mounted beneath said fixed step, hangerssuspended from said second-mentioned rock-shaft, a step carried by saidhangers, mechanism between said two rock-shafts, cooperating with saidshafts, that when the step is lowered the trapdoor is raised, and viceversa, and a stop-arm extending from said second-mentioned rock-shaft.

8. In combination with the platform of a car, said platform beingprovided with an opening, a rock-shaft mounted beneath said opening, atrap-door mounted upon said rock-shaft, a fixed step beneath saidopening, a second rock-shaft mounted beneath said fixed step, hangerssuspended from said second-mentioned rock-shaft, a step carried by saidhangers, mechanism between said two rock-shafts, cooperating with saidshafts, that when the step is lowered the trap-door is raised, and viceversa, said mechanism consisting of a crank-arm secured upon saidsecond-mentioned rockshaft, a link secured upon the first-n1entionedrock-shaft, a yoke pivotally connected with said link, a second yokepivotally connected with said crank-arm, a third yoke pivotall connectedwith said firstmentioned yo (e, and a connecting rod between said secondand third-mentioned yokes.

9. In combination with the platform of a car, said platform beingprovided with an opening, a rock-shaft mounted beneath said opening, atrap-door mounted upon said rock-shaft, a fixed step beneath saidopening, a second rock-shaft mounted beneath said fixed step, hangerssuspended from said secend-mentioned rock-shaft, a step carried by saidhangers, mechanism between said two rock-shafts, cooperating with saidshafts, that when the step is lowered the trap-door is raised, and viceversa, said mechanism consisting of a crank-arm secured upon saidsecond-mentioned rock-shaft, a link secured upon the first-mentionedrock-shaft, a yoke pivotally connected with said link, a second yokepivotally connected with said crankarm, a third yoke pivotally connectedwith said first-mentioned yoke, a connectin rod between said second andthird-mentioned yokes, and a stop-arm extending from saidsecondmentioned rock-shaft.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this 6th day of February, 1914.

EDVARD M. MOLLER.

Witnesses FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL, FREDK. H. WV. FRAENTZEL.

Copies of thin patent may be obtained for flve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patent;

Washington, D. G.

